Smoke producer



Oct. 28, 1930,

Patented Oct. 28, 1930 UNITED HARDEN F. TAYLOR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORTO THE ATLANTIC COAST FISH- ERIES COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF MAINE SMOKE PRODUCER Application filed August 30, 1928. Serial No. 303,002.

This invention relates to a smoke producer, and more particularly to a smoke producer adapted to be used in the smoking of comestibles, such as fish, meat and the like.

In the art of smoking comestibles smoke is generated by maintaining a fuel, such as sawdust, in a smoldering state. In the apparatus used prior to this invention the fuel was maintained in substantially the same position in the burner during the production of the smoke. Occasionally the fuel was raked in order to present different portions of the fuel, whereby a more complete decomposition of the fuel was attained. This procedure, it

1 is obvious, was highly unsatisfactory'and greatly ineflioient.

I have found that I can overcome the above mentioned disadvantages and defects by producing smoke in a relatively simple and in-' expensive apparatus in which the fuel is con stantly agitated and progressively advanced through the apparatus.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a smoke producer which is simple in construction and inexpensive.

Another object of this invention is a smoke producer in which the fuel is agitated and progressively advanced through the apparatus while being decomposed.

, Another object of this invention is to pro vide a smoke producer comprising a trough having fins on the outer surface thereof, heating means disposed between said fins and means disposed on the interior of said trough l 5 to agitate and progressively advance the fuel through the trough.

Further objects will appear from the: fol-.

lowing description, appended claims and accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and in which Figure 1 is a sectional view of the apparatus constituting the invention,

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the apparatus.

Figure 3 is aj detail illustrating the heating means.

Figure 4 is a detail of one driving mechanism which may be used.

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts,

the reference numeral 1 designates a trough preferably made of a metal having a high conductivity of heat, such as aluminum, brass and the like. The outer surface of the trough 1 is providedor formed with integral projecting fins or vanes 2 whereby the heat ing surface of the trough is increased. Disposed between the fins or vanes 2 are heating elements 3. Various heating means may be used. I, however, prefer to use electrical heating means whichcomprises quartz rods 4 extending longitudinally between the-fins or vanes2 and having ribbons or resistance wires 5 wound thereon andconnected in series, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3.IThe ribbons or resistance wires are connected to some suitable source-of supply (not shown) and are adapted to-be heated'to approXi mately 1200 F.

Extending through the interior of the trough there is a shaft 6'carryingdeflector blades 7. The deflector blades 7 are shaped in the form of'segments of a circle and are so pitched that during operation they will not only constantly stir or rake the fuel, but will progressively advance it through thetrough. Means 8 is disposed at one end of the trough, whereby T predetermined quantities of the saw-dust or other'fuel maybe introduced into the trough. At the other end of the trough 1' there is provided-a chute 9 leading to a receptacle whereby the residue of the fuel may be deposited after its travel through the trough.

In operation, the deflector blades 7 are given an oscillatory-movement. To attain thisresult, the shaft 6 is given an oscillatory movement. known-in the art may beused to attain this result-land one of'such mechanisms is illustrated in Figure 4. This. mechanismconiprises a crank mechanism includingaorank Any of the-various means well disc 13 and crank levers 14 actuated by means.

able manner. .I prefer to surround the trough 1 on its exterior with a heat retaining material whereby the heat generated will be prevented from being dissipated or radiated into the surrounding atmosphere and the trough cooled. Specifically, I surround the trough 1 on its exterior with asbestos fibers 10 or other heat retaining materials. The heat retaining material is maintained in position by means of sheets of asbestos lumber 11 secured in any suitable manner as to angle irons 12.

In operation, the fuel is intermittently or continuously fed through the feeding means 8 into the trough which has been heated to smoke producing temperature by means of the heating elements. The deflector blades 7, through the shaft 6, are oscillated whereby the fuel is constantly stirred and progressive ly advanced through the apparatus.

The motion imparted to the deflector blades is so regulated that at the end of its travel through the trough, the saw-dust or fuel has been as completely consumed or decomposed as possible. Upon reaching the end of the trough 1, the residue is pushed into a chute 9 leading to a receptacle which may be removed when desired.

It is obvious that various modifications may he made in the details of construction above described without departing from the nature of the invention, and I do not intend to limit myself to the exact and specific details above set forth, except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim 1. A smoke producer comprising a trough, means to heat said trough, means to introduce fuel into said trough, and means to agitate and progressively advance said fuel, said means comprising a shaft, deflector blades mounted thereon, and means to oscillate said shaft. 7 r

2. A smoke producer comprising a trough, means to heat said trough, means to introduce fuel into said trough, and means to agitate and progressively advance said fuel, said means comprising a shaft, V-shaped deflector blades mounted thereon, and means to osc1llate said shaft.

3. A smoke producer comprising a metal trough, fins on the outer surface of sa1d trough, heating elements disposed between said fins, means to introduce fuel into said trough and means to agitate and progressively advance said fuel through sa1d trough, sa1d means comprising a shaft, deflector blades mounted on said shaft and means to oscillate said shaft.

4. A smoke producer comprising a metal trough, fins on the outer surface of said trough, electrical heating elements comprising ribbons wound on quartz rods disposed between said fins, means tointroduce fuel into said trough, and means to agitate and progressively advance said fuel through said trough, said means comprising a shaft, deflector blades mounted on said shaft and means to oscillate said shaft.

In testimony whereof, I have afliXed my signature to this specification.

HARDEN F. TAYLOR. 

